As I was trying to RTFA, and came across a slashdotted site, I just had the sudden realization (I'm special -- I get extra time): Slashdot obviously has two classes of users. Those who read the articles (leading to the/. effect) and those who post - since so little of what I see in the commentary has any indication of being influenced by the FA.

Well -- I guess I should be proud. For the first time today, some AC posted that I was a Karma Whore, with the suggestion to look at my user page for evidence

In some sense of the word, I suppose it's true. I tend to write comments only about material in which I have personal knowledge, or express well founded opinions without resorting to ad hominem attacks.

Would I continue to write were it not for the positive feedback one gets from/.-karma? Probably not, but I suspect that was one of the motivating factors for CT et al to add moderation and karma in the first place.